Reduction of Nitro Groups to Nitroso Groups

Reduction of Nitro Groups to Nitroso Groups: Introduction

Reaction principle

The reduction of nitro groups to nitroso groups is difficult, because the latter is readily reduced further to substituted hydroxylamines and amino groups. Only by choosing reaction conditions judiciously can the reduction be stopped at the nitroso stage. In an alternative method, the reduction is allowed to proceed to a hydroxylamine which subsequently is oxidized with dichromate to the nitroso derivative.